February 1, 2023 – Schenectady, New York – The Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci) announced today that it will present the exhibition African Americans at General Electric featuring 60 photographs from the Museum's Archives. The exhibition was created in collaboration with Milton and Kenneth Evans and displays moments from a history of talented African American scientists, inventors, and engineers and more that worked at General Electric.
With their help, GE created the Program to Increase Minority Engineering Graduates (PIMEG) in 1972. PIMEG originated in Schenectady and expanded nationwide, offering tutoring, scholarships, career guidance and summer work experiences to minority high school students. Students who never considered careers in science and engineering used this program to become leaders in industry and academia. Christine Grant, a professor at North Carolina State and the president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, credited PIMEG as the thing that “opened my eyes” to science.
Brilliant minds and hard work have always been at the center of science and technology. The success of many corporations, including General Electric, is owed largely to the talented people that they employ. GE was amongst the first companies to embrace people of many races and creeds. Through their perseverance, inventions, and encouragement of future generations, these pioneers have made a lasting impact on their fields, and on STEM education.
Work for GE’s African American pioneers did not stop at the end of the work day. Individuals like Milton Evans, Sy Jenkins, and Marshall Jones devoted their free time to inspiring students in minority communities to explore STEM as a possible career.
About Milton Evans
Milt began his career in 1964 at GE Research as a chemist before transferring two years later to the Silicone Products Department in Waterford. Throughout his career at General Electric, Milt received 25 patents and gained experience in marketing and product development. After retiring from GE, Milt launched his own business ventures. Along with his sons Kenneth, Alan, and Warren, Milt founded ReWire-a company that advises organizations about economically sustainable green energy sources.
About miSci
Located in Schenectady, New York, miSci presents exhibitions, programs, and events designed to inspire people to celebrate and explore science and technology – past, present, and future. Home to the Suits-Bueche Planetarium, the Museum's holdings include an archive of more than 1.6 million prints, negatives, and historic materials from the General Electric Photographic Collection, and more than 15,000 objects relating to the history of science and technology. Visit www.miSci.org to learn more.
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